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The Winnipeg Jets needed a spark and Chris Thorburn wasn't afraid to step in and provide it.

With his team reeling a bit in the second period, Thorburn dropped the gloves with Florida Panthers tough guy Krys Barch and got into a spirited tilt that saw him land several big right hands.

The action provided an immediate spark as Bryan Little scored 30 seconds later to even the score in what turned out to be a 2-1 loss to the Panthers on Saturday night.

"It's pretty obvious what he did on that play and it's pretty obvious he should have got an assist on that play because we came right back and scored," said Jets head coach Claude Noel. "He's a valuable guy for us and he certainly puts in his work."

"That was a great fight — he came out throwing and stepped up big for the team," added Jets defenceman Ron Hainsey.

Thorburn scored his first goal of the season on Tuesday and has been a warrior of late.

"He's one of those guys that will do anything for the team," said Jets goalie Chris Mason. "He'll block shots, fight. That's the kind of guy that he is.

"We would have liked to have kept that momentum going, but it doesn't always work that way."